Game and Fish to build boat ramp on river in downtown LR

Thursday

LITTLE ROCK — The state Game and Fish Commission agreed Thursday to build a public boat ramp and parking area on the Arkansas River in downtown Little Rock.

LITTLE ROCK — The state Game and Fish Commission agreed Thursday to build a public boat ramp and parking area on the Arkansas River in downtown Little Rock.

The commission pledged to spend up to $411,000 for the project requested by John Burkhalter, a Little Rock businessman and member of the Arkansas Highway Commission, who has plans to develop the Rock City Yacht Club near the Clinton presidential library.

The agency earmarked $300,000 from its fiscal 2013 budget and $111,000 from fiscal 2014. Money for the project will come from Marine Fuel Tax funds, which is state taxes paid on fuel used by boats.

The ramp and parking area will be on city park land.

Commissioners also approved a memorandum of understanding with the city of Jacksonville for use of a shooting range to be built by the city and the commission. The range will be built near Holland Bottoms Wildlife Management Area, a Game and Fish Commission property.

The commission plans to hold at least seven Arkansas Youth Shooting Sports Program events annually. The shooting program is a rapidly growing activity that involves trapshooting for students in many schools around the state. Other commission events also may be held at the range. The memorandum of understanding is for a 25-year period.

The range will be for public use, and it will be constructed within 18 months, according to the agreement.

Also Thursday, the commission donated an unused historic bridge to the city of Danville.

The bowstring bridge located on the agency’s Petit Jean Wildlife Management Area is listed on the National Historic Registry. It was built in 1880 and went out of use when Yell County rerouted a road across the Petit Jean River.

The bride will be used on a recreational trail in Danville.

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